ADVICE FOR THE CLERGY

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21400, 16 February 1935, Page 9

ADVICE FOR THE CLERGY

TO THE EDITOR 015 TIIE I>ItBSS. Sir—Periodically the question has been raised, "What is wrong with the Church?" Periodically we are told that the fault lies in the poor example set by lukewarm congregations, ana that those who do not go are letting it down. This indeed is true enough; but have we ever heard of another fault underlying all that is wrong with the Church? Have we ever heard that our leaders are at fault? I claim that the clergy hold the solution to the problems confronting the Church in the palms of their hands. They only need to clench tightly and it is theirs —but only a few have the courage, or rather the common sense, to grasp tne opportunity. The world to-day is hard and cynical, and it must be met by practical religion. High principles and lofty ideals have their rightful place, but let the clergy came more down to earth when they come into contact with men. Unless they reach for the world, the world, occupied as it is m these days, will certainly not reach for them. Many of our clergymen are line men and are taking their share of the world's responsibilities; but many, while of great character and principle, are not the men required for a difficult task—and a more difficult one it would be hard to find. Some are too harmless, too meek and mild, some axe too proud, and others are too lazy. This is an age when virile ministers must man the ship. They must be men who are prepared to let others see that they are really men, willing to associate with others not always as teachers but as comrades. Too often we hear a minister deploring from the pulpit the lack of interest in the Church, many people regarding the minister merely as a convenience for marrying, burying, or baptising them, but caring not how his stipend is raised. Now, how many ministers take any interest in public affairs? How many are connected with sports bodies or other institutions where they rub shoulders with their fellow-men? Here they are missing their greatest opportunity of improving their working knowledge of men. Of course we are told that the minister visits the homes of these people; but how often does he come into contact with the man of the house? Too or cm he prefers his cup of tea in the altcrnuon. When he does meet the husband in the home, and he does not happen to be a church-goer,"what does the minister say? He does not know as much as he should about the man, he will not risk politics, and he dare not ask him why he has not been to church. How much easier for the minister if he has brought that same man down with a tackle at football, or hit him for a six at cricket? Of course everyone cannot be an athlete, but no minister is too old to give a little time to public bodies or to become an enthusiastic supporter of some club. Here he can see men as they really are, and here he will find that he is respected and admired for his interest. What I have intended to point out is that our ministers should get more into touch with the community, and they will find that the community will want to get more into touch with them.—Yours, etc., W.M. February 15, 1935.